Youth School of Leadership
In Manchester, there is a pressing need to empower young people to become active citizens who can address local issues.
Engaging youth in social action projects has been shown to foster a sense of agency and community involvement.
With few relatable role models and little exposure to diverse industries, young people often disengage from education and struggle to connect learning with real-world opportunities.
This results in a cycle of low aspiration and underachievement.
Career Safari was developed to break this cycle — helping young people explore careers, build confidence, and connect their goals to tangible opportunities.
What the programme does
The Youth School of Leadership empowers young people to become active changemakers by equipping them with the skills, confidence, and experience to lead social action in their communities.
Through a mix of practical training, real-world project delivery, and mentorship, participants learn how to turn ideas into action and become visible leaders in the spaces that matter to them.
Key features include:
Workshops
Leadership development workshops covering communication, decision-making, advocacy, and emotional intelligence
Project Management
Project management training where participants learn to plan, budget, and deliver their own community initiatives
Peer Collaboration
Facilitated peer collaboration to co-design and implement meaningful campaigns and events
Mentorship
… from experienced leaders working in community development, youth leadership, and activism
Opportunities
… to lead and present at events, forums, and within their own schools or neighbourhoods
The change we hope to see
This programme empowers young people to lead change, aligned with:
Building Skills
Leadership, public speaking, planning, and advocacy skills are developed through real-world projects.
Personal Growth
Young people gain confidence in their voice, purpose, and capacity to lead.
Civic Responsibility
Core to the programme — participants design and deliver social action projects that respond to local needs.
Social Mobility
Leadership experience enhances CVs, builds networks, and opens new pathways into public, policy, and civic careers.
Wellbeing Support
Group discussions and mentoring support emotional resilience and belonging